John Grigg's Column

Even though he leads his team in scoring, Patrice Bergeron hasn't been shooting out the lights, so you have to question his inclusion on Team Canada. You heard it here first, folks: Patrice Bergeron is the luckiest man in hockey right now.
Now, I know that may sound callous considering the concussion battles Bergeron has waged and won, but I’m sure he has put those behind him and would like everyone else to as well.

In the only deal of significance at the Olympic deadline, the former third overall pick is moved to free up some much-needed cap space for the Hawks. The Chicago Blackhawks began the process of clearing salary cap space for next season today before the Olympic roster freeze.
The Hawks traded defenseman Cam Barker and his $3,083,333 cap hit to Minnesota in exchange for defenseman Kim Johnsson and 2009 first-rounder (16th overall) Nick Leddy, a freshman defenseman with the University of Minnesota.

It would be unfortunate for Team Canada to be without Ryan Getzlaf, but if the big center can't play, Alex Burrows should be considered. Here’s hoping Ryan Getzlaf’s ankle is fine and he’s able to be in Canada’s lineup a week from today when the Canucks take on Norway as their quest to win Olympic gold on home ice begins.

In is first season in North America, the 25-year-old has battled health problems and worked towards being a No. 1 on a troubled Toronto team. It’s been a hell of a calendar year for Maple Leafs netminder Jonas Gustavsson.
‘The Monster’ rose to prominence last season in the Swedish Elite League after posting sparkling numbers during the regular season (he led the league with a 1.

He's not about to supplant Sid the Kid, but the Hawks captain is showing his personality more and endearing himself to fans with more than just his play. There’s no doubt Sidney Crosby is the face of Canadian hockey – heck, he’s the face of the NHL – and if anyone doubts it, check a Crosby Tim Hortons commercial or two.

The two players deserve a lifetime ban for their actions, but the focus must turn towards what can be done to stop these hits altogether. The Quebec and Ontario Leagues have some big decisions to make in the wake of the Patrice Cormier and Zack Kassian hits the past few days.
After Michael Liambas was suspended for life for what many considered simply too hard a hit on Ben Fanelli – who, many also feel, put himself in a vulnerable position by turning at the last moment – there really is no choice but to dole out the same penalties to both Cormier and Kassian when the leagues make a decision after Wednesday’s Top Prospects Game.

If Edmonton hopes to get things back on track, they need to be very careful with their remaining cap space after this season. Steve Tambellini will have one of the NHL’s most demanding jobs come March and into the off-season. As GM of the Edmonton Oilers – a capped-out squad – he will have tough decisions to make.

At first glance, adding a 20-year-old over reliable vets doesn't seem like a great idea, but Drew Doughty will play a big role in Vancouver. Drew Doughty is fast becoming a household name, in the Great White North and beyond.
Now, if you’re a big hockey fan, or a fan in Guelph, Ont.

Off-ice problems aside, the changes that the first 10 years of the 2000s saw made the decade one to remember fondly. The NHL entered the 21st century fresh off a seemingly manic round of expansions and relocations during the 1990s; the league’s growing footprint focused south of the 49th parallel and below the Mason-Dixon Line.

GM Don Waddell's shrewd additions to the roster over the summer didn't seem like much at first, but you can't argue with the results. The 17-11-3 Atlanta Thrashers are flying high this season. Not Washington Capitals or San Jose Sharks high, but Atlanta high.
The Thrashers are second in the Southeast Division, sixth in the Eastern Conference, 16th in the league and firmly in the thick of the East’s playoff race.

In an effort to get a more balanced attack, the Blackhawks coach has smartly shuffled his top two lines. It was reported Tuesday Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is mixing up his top six forwards after a two-game experiment with a loaded No.

Executive director Steve Yzerman will have a helluva time picking players for the Olympic team, but he should start by picking teammates. Apologies to Homer Simpson, but whenever I think of Team Canada at the Olympics I conjure up an adapted Homerism: “To depth: the cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems.